[Opposition leader Raila Odinga in a past event. He received two former ODM defectors. Photo/Nation]
NASA received major boost on Saturday following re-union of two major players in Nyanza politics, who had quit due to internal wrangles prior to elections.
Former MPs Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda) and Jakoyo Midowo (Gem) buried the hatchet with their former boss after weeks of disquiet necessitated by bitter internal rivalries within the ODM party.
While Gumbo contested unsuccessfully for Siaya governorship after losing to Amoth Rasanga, Midiwo, a cousin to Raila Odinga, lost also as an independent candidate to Elisha Odhiambo.
The two had opposed ODM nomination outcome in which they lost to the subsequent winners in General elections in August.
Despite their loss, they had put a spirited fight and the final outcome only showed they were separated with an insignificant margin with the outright winners.
At the rally, Odinga pleaded with those who had walked out of ODM to join hands and boost his presidential hopes as he prepares to face Uhuru Kenyatta in a repeat election.
Prior to their exit, they played a major role in national politics with Midiwo serving as Deputy Minority Leader in assembly while Gumbo serving as chair of Public Accounts Committee.